Audio-visual dummy

ABSTRACT

An audio-visual dummy including a rigid anthropomorphic structure with, instead of a head, a monitor for delivering an audiovisual message. The monitor is connected to a message reader system. The rigid structures can be placed on a base. The base includes a storage space. The power cords to the monitor are positioned in the lower part of the monitor so as to be concealed from observers. The rigid structure is made of a plastic or resinous material.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an audio-visual dummy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art technique concerns so-called audio-visual dummies whichare meant to be active: that means that they re-create the real presenceof an individual. All the known techniques which aim at obtaining theillusion or the appearance of life in the dummy result from theprojection of a film or of two or three-dimensional slides onto the headof the dummy, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,840 and French Patent No.2,293,023. The projection being synchronized with a sound recording, thedummy looks as if it had facial motions while giving a message. Knowntypes of devices meet with many difficulties both in using and inproviding a faithful reproduction of facial motions. The majordifficulty in using such dummy results from the projection system whichrequires perfect lighting and adjustment, and therefore eliminates manypossible uses as for example outdoor use. For someone using this type ofdummy, it is very difficult, indeed impossible to create a visual andsound message on his own, since it requires a specific and timeconsuming preparation and production technique. Accordingly, the user isfaced with a major inconvenience: the versatility of application of thedummy. The film or the slides made from a human face whose features havebeen used as a model for creating the facial features of the dummy,suppose the use of the head of the dummy which corresponds to that ofthe model. When facial movements will be projected onto the head of thedummy, there will always be either a slight time-lag or shadows becauseof projecting the face on a three-dimensional surface of about 180°.

It is an object of the present invention to find a remedy for thedisadvantages above described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the audio-visual dummy comprises a rigidstructure which looks like a human body and, in place of the head, therigid structures receives a monitor which is able to transmit anaudio-visual message, such monitor being connected to a system forreading the message.

Interestingly, the audio-visual dummy is placed on a base wherein thereading system is inserted. Preferably, the various connections of themonitor are placed in its lower part so that the cords linking theconnections to the reading system can be placed inside the rigidstructure and be concealed from spectators.

Advantageously, the rigid structure comprises an inner metal coreprovided with hollow tubes able to house the cords.

Said rigid structure can also be made of plastic or resinous substancesso as to avoid incorporating a metal core.

According to an interesting embodiment of the present invention, themonitor is provided with four anchoring points suitable to cooperatewith four attachments which are part of the rigid structure.

Preferably, the base includes a space for storing video-cassettes and/orvideo disks as well as a space for a battery, an automatic cord winderand an infrared cell for the remote control of the system reading theaudio-visual message.

So as to facilitate the movement of the dummy according to theinvention, the base is advantageously mounted on rollers.

Preferably, the monitor is provided with a mask. When the film is readon the monitor, the face emerges from its support thanks to its naturalcolour so that the spectator can ignore the monitor. And the spectatorwill be able to ignore the monitor to a greater extent if the latter isoval-shaped. For the same purpose, the rigid structure which looks likea body can be provided with one or several articulated limb.

Once the message author's face has been previously recorded on avideo-cassette or a video disk by means of a camera, the screen restoresthe same face and all the facial movements determined by this message.Such technique eliminates all the problems met by existing audio-visualdummies when restoring facial movements. Since the image is restored bythe screen of the monitor, all the technical problems linked with theprojection and therefore with lighting and adjusting conditions areeliminated. Thanks to its method, the audio-visual dummy enables theuser to realize, very easily and all by himself, the message he wants toexpress as long as he has a camera which is compatible with the systemof the video reader. Thanks to the technical characteristics of themonitor described hereinafter, the head of the actor can be watched by aspectator according to an angle of approximately 180°. Moreover, thanksto the technique of making a video film, the spectator being within such180° area will find himself being watched straight in the eyes by thelively face on the screen. By means of the technical effect previouslydescribed, the present invention provides a continuous contact betweenthe spectator and the audio-visual dummy.

The dummy is arranged so that it can be used in most places withouthaving to be prepared. Actually it comprises the complete system whichis necessary for it to work, unlike the audio-visual dummies of theprior art. Many other advantages appear to the user in comparison withexisting communicating media: first, he can very easily personalize theaudio-visual dummy to his image with clothing. Secondly, he can createhis own message with an unlimited versatility of use, and choose theface and the voice which appear on the screen and thereby use it veryfreely. Thanks to its proper definition, the present invention combinesall the advantages of a human message, such as the impact, and thevisual effect which is perfectly realistic, and eliminates all thedisadvantages such as presence, but also tiredness, demotivation, etc .. . . The system of this audio-visual dummy makes it possible to adaptit to any country, to any kind of situation and to make video messagesin any existing language or dialect.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will standout from the following description of one embodiment of the dummy, suchdescription being given as an example only and referring to theaccompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the monitor,

FIG. 2 shows the metal core of the rigid structure,

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 represent the various parts of the body,

FIG. 6 shows the base with its incorporated device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the various figures, the dummy comprises a colourrectangular monitor 1 having dimensions which are proportionate to thoseof a rigid structure which is bodylike and which composes the body ofthe dummy. The black mask 2 of the monitor is at the most twocentimeters thick on its four sides, either on its upper, low, right andleft part. Due to its specific use, the monitor 1 needs only one imagereception channel together with basic functions such as light, contrastand colour control, loudness control, and other functions which arenecessary to its adequate working. All the functions can be handled froma remote control system. The monitor is power supplied 3 through a powercord liable to receive various known electric standards, including 12volts so that the audio-visual dummy is completely autonomous. A TVperipheral connector 4 is provided for the connection with the videoreader 14 as well as an antenna entrance. The sound implement canintervene through the monitor, giving the sound reproduction through twoloud-speakers 6 placed on both sides of the screen, and more preciselyat mouth level. Such sound implement can also intervene through anamplifier and loud-speakers connected to the audio-video system. Thepower supply 3 of the TV peripheral connector 4 for the antenna entrance5 is placed in the lower part of the monitor 1 in such a way that theconnection between the monitor 1 and the rigid structure does not letcables nor cords appear to the spectators. The monitor 1 and the rigidstructure are assembled by means of four anchoring points 7 fit tocooperate with four attachments 23 and belonging to the metal core 24 ofthe rigid structure.

The present dummy looking like a human body, is made from a metal core24 which is rigid enough to hold the video screen weight.

The metal structure is made of square-shaped hollow tubes 25 fixed tothe four attachments 23 and supporting the screen. The skeleton made ofsteel or aluminum is covered so as to give a body shape. The body iselaborated with moulds which can receive plastic injections or any otherinjectable substance and is broken down into three parts, either thelegs, the trunk and the arms. The legs 9 are made so as to be insertedinto the skeleton of the legs. The trunk 10 has been elaborated so as tofit perfectly into the metal skeleton while making four tubes emergefrom the location of the neck, such tubes being used for fixing the bodyright in the centre of the screen without leaving any space. At the armsjunctions 11, the trunk is equipped with an attachment for fixing thearms. The arms are made in such a way that it is possible toreconstitute any possible movements by means of an articulating system12. The hands are also articulated, they can receive objects, such as amicrophone or any other object which can be held by a human hand.

The base 26 which is rectangular-shaped as a box, is made of steel,aluminum or plastic; it supports the dummy in the required positionproviding it with a perfect stability. The base which is mounted onrollers 13 makes it possible to manipulate the dummy in every possibledirections very easily. This moving system is manual, although anelectric or other moving system can be contemplated, which provides thedummy with autonomous movements. In addition to the usualcharacteristics of this types of device, the reader 14 offers an"automatic reverse-repetition reading" function allowing the cassette tobe reviewed several times without someone having to intervene. The videoreader is power supplied through a power cord liable to receive thevarious known electric standards including 12 volts. An audio-video TVperipheral point and an RF output connector are provided so as toconnect the monitor to the video reader. For a remote control of thedummy, an infrared detection cell 15 connected to the audio-video systemis inserted into the front part of the base. In this box, a space hasbeen provided for lodging the cassettes 16 and the video disks which arenot used. For the dummy according to the present invention to be used inpublic, the box is equipped with a key locking 17, thereby preventingthe device previously described from being deteriorated or stolen.Furthermore, an automatic power cord winder 18 is placed inside the basefor the power supply of the dummy. On the top of said base 26, there arefixed two square-shaped hollow tubes 19 with a diameter smaller thanthose forming the metal skeleton hereabove described, which fix thedummy onto the base. The video reader is connected to the video screenby passing a coaxial cable 20 and/or a TV peripheral cable 21 throughthe metal tubes forming the skeleton of the dummy, as well as by thepower cord of the video screen which is to be connected to the powersupply device placed in the base 22. The various parts of the presentinvention are either imbedded or assembled by means of a fixing deviceso as make the metal core solid with the monitor which is in turn solidwith the arms. The present audio-visual dummy is not limited to the formand the embodiment described herein, it can therefore receive thereproduction of a male, female, child of other body. According toanother embodiment which is not shown here, a mechanical, electrical orelectronic device can be used for creating a lengthwise and horizontalmovement of the video screen, as well as an automatic motion of thearms, in order to increase the visual effect of the dummy.

The video message is made through a video camera compatible with thereading video system, VHS for example. The ZOOM lens of the camera ispositioned right in front of the head of the actor at eyes height, andat a distance included between one and two meters. Thanks to thistechnique, the spectator who is within an area of about 180° in relationto the screen will find himself watched straight in the eyes by thelively face he sees on the screen. A black fixed plate having the samedimensions as the monitor is placed behind the actor's head forcentering the camera on the one hand, and optimizing the visual effectof the face on the video screen thanks to its colour, on the other hand.At the bottom of this plate, there is placed another perpendicular platewhich is shaped as a widened U wherein the actor positions and props hisneck. The fact that his head is thereby positioned ensures that nomovements be made at the basis of the neck, this feature being essentialfor a perfect centering between the actor's neck and the basis of thedummy's neck when the message is read on the video screen. The basis ofthe neck being held and the rear part of the head resting against thesupport, the actor's face can have slight lateral movements while themessage is recorded, as long as the head does not project beyond itssupport. When recording it is necessary to use lighting so as to avoidbacklighting and shadows on the face. It is advised to prepare theactor's face with make-up before recording so as to improve theappearance of the face. From then on, the actor is filmed while givingone or several messages which can be spontaneous or prepared in advance.In order to remember a prepared message, the actor or any other person,may have previously recorded his message on an audio cassette by meansof a small earphone and repeat it, or he can repeat his message thanksto one of the various existing visual device such as an electronic panelwhich displays his message. Once the message has been video recorded, itis continuously reproduced up to the end of the video tape of thecassette which should be suited to the standards of the video reader.The cassette is then introduced into the audio-visual dummy readerdescribed hereabove which thus restitute the video message required onthe screen while giving an extremely realistic human appearance thanksto the method of making the message and the audio-visual dummy.

Thanks to its design, the audio-visual dummy according to the inventioncan be dressed with clothes made for a human being and accordingly anykind of clothes which can be found on the market is suitable.. Onlysocks and shoes should have a free space for allowing the tube which isused for fitting the base and the dummy to go through. It will bepossible for the user of the present invention to choose the dress ofthe audio-visual dummy, and more particularly, for the first time hewill be able to adapt the clothes to the actor's head on the monitor orvice versa. The user of such dummy, unlike known types of dummy, will beable to harmonize the face and the clothing. As an example, one canimagine, in order to promote or to inform on a stand selling fresh fishin a supermarket, an audio-visual dummy wearing a yellow oilskin,trousers and boots, holding a fishing .rod in one hand with the face ofan old bearded fisherman on the monitor who would inform spectatorsabout the freshness of the fish. Inversely, a dummy wearing an eveningsuit and holding a new perfume in one hand with the head of a pleasantand good looking person on the monitor, being good-looking who wouldvaunt the qualities and the effects of said perfume.

I claim:
 1. An audio-visual dummy comprising a rigid structure in a formof a human body, said rigid structure receiving a video monitor in placeof a head of said human body, said video monitor displaying anaudio-visual message of an animated face, said monitor being connectedto a system for reading said audio-visual message.
 2. The audio-visualdummy according to claim 1, said rigid structure is placed on a basewherein said system is inserted.
 3. The audio-visual dummy according toclaim 2, said base comprises a space for storing video-cassettes, aspace for a power cord and an infrared cell.
 4. The dummy according toclaim 2, the base is mounted on rollers.
 5. The audio-visual dummyaccording to claim 2, said base comprises a space for storingvideo-disks.
 6. The audio-visual dummy according to claim 1, connectionsof the monitor are placed in a lower part of the monitor so that cordslinking the connections to the system are concealed from spectators. 7.The audio-visual dummy according to claim 6, said rigid structurecomprises an inner metal core having hollow tubes able to house thecords.
 8. The audio-visual dummy according to claim 1, said rigidstructure is made of plastic material.
 9. The audio-visual dummyaccording to claim 1, the monitor is equipped with four anchoring pointscooperating with four attachments which are part of the rigid structure.10. The audio-visual dummy according to claim 1, said rigid structure isequipped with at least one articulated limb.
 11. The audio-visual dummyaccording to claim 1, said monitor comprises loud-speakers placedlaterally in a lower part of said monitor.